Act 5:17-41 | ESV | STEP | But the high priest rose up , and all who were with him (that is , the party of the Sadducees ), and filled with jealousy

Acts 5:17-41

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^athe Sadducees), and filled with ^bjealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and ^cput them in the public prison. 19 But during the night ^dan angel of the Lord ^eopened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^fthe words of ^gthis ^hLife.” 21 And when they heard this, ⁱthey entered the temple ^jat daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when ^kthe captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^lare standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then ^mthe captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ⁿthey were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, ^o“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^pintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ^q“We must obey God rather than men. 30 ^rThe God of our fathers ^sraised Jesus, ^twhom you killed by hanging him on ^ua tree. 31 God exalted ^vhim at his right hand as ^wLeader and ^xSavior, ^yto give ^zrepentance to Israel and ^aaforgiveness of sins. 32 And ^abwe are witnesses to these things, and ^acso is the Holy Spirit, ^adwhom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they ^aewere enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named ^afGamaliel, ^aga teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For ^ahbefore these days Theudas rose up, ^aiclaiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^ajthe census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for ^akif this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but ^alif it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^ammight even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and ^anwhen they had called in the apostles, ^aothey beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, ^aprejoicing that they were counted worthy ^aqto suffer dishonor for ^arthe name.